If I ever won the lottery, I would go hog wild buying up pieces of art. My house and garden would be overflowing with the most eclectic collection ever because, like music, I am all over the map with art. My bachelor degree is in education with a concentration in ART education. It’s a bit of a joke. I loved the art history classes but the studio classes were another story. Oh I fantasized that I could waltz into class, whip out my brushes, and paint up a masterpiece. My professors thought otherwise. I had to beg my way to a passing grade in watercolor class. So I will just have to create vicariously through the many masters.

But what exactly is art? This age-old question has been debated throughout time. According to the dictionary art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination. Others have defined it differently:

Art is either a plagiarist or a revolutionary. Paul Gauguin (1848-1903)

We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

Filling a space in a beautiful way. That’s what art means to me. Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986)

Gardeners who collect art seem to fall into three categories. There are the people who fill their gardens with gnomes, flamencos and other such statuary. (I fondly refer to this as yard art.) There are the serious collectors that commission pieces of substantial cash value for the garden. And then there are those who are just downright clever. These are the folks who embody the definition that art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination. My hat is off to the artistic talents of these gentle souls.

On my recent garden-touring adventure in Toronto, I managed to spot a few masterpieces that were tucked into the gardens. I’d like to think that each piece gives the visitor just a hint of who gardens there.

Metal chairs are placed (or left) in this garden. It was certainly an interesting conversational point.

This piece, cleverly tucked in, appeared to be a remnant of a railing.

Stones are particularly useful in creating garden art. Whether they are threaded on a copper pipe, cradled in a snag, or stacked cairn-like.

This gardener used a cross-section of an old tree trunk, stood it on its edge, and tucked it in the bed.There were a few of these spheres fashioned out of vines. I saw them placed on the ground and even sitting up in a tree.

This very clever gardener used the side of the garden shed for a Koi mural.

Have you ever found yourself muttering “I could do that,” as you walked through an art museum or exhibit? I’m guilty. In fact I’m doing it right now.

Let’s go make some garden art!